Question by Deathbyhand: Can you look at my college essay?
This is for my Rice supplement essay. The prompt is The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What perspective do you feel that you will contribute to life at Rice? (Most applicants are able to respond successfully in two to three double-spaced pages.)
I cursed at myself after what might be the twentieth time I burned myself with the burning soldering iron. I looked at my finger and shrugged. “No pain, no gain.” I proceeded to continue soldering those last resistors onto my valuable circuit board. I examined all the minute components, remembering their functions. The mathematical formulas describing their behaviors raced through my head. It was my very first project, an A.M/F.M. radio. As I inserted the power supply and turned the switch on with some anxiety, I heard audible voices talking about today’s news. I could not feel help but feel a wave of pride.
I have a radio sitting on my desk as I write this, and I often think about moments when other things in my life have come… well, to life. I remember the first time I got an A on a spelling test in English class after being in French immersion in Canada for years. I remember the first time I learned to play something powerful on the mridangam. The first time I felt good about giving up a week of my summer to volunteer in Alabama rather than play tennis. The first time I recited the entire Rudram in Sanskrit. The first time I played an awesome computer game on the computer that I built with my own hands. The first time I aced all my AP exams.
It took more than one circuit board to finish the radio I built. In fact, it took me three new circuit boards. When I visited Thomas Edison’s lab in New Jersey, I was amazed how strange some of his initial devices looked. Most weren’t even successful. Edison didn’t consider failure a hindrance to success in the future. In my sophomore year, I took AP U.S History and got a ‘4’ on the exam. While I wouldn’t say that getting a ‘4’ on an exam is a failure, I was aiming for the 5. I spent a while wondering what went wrong. And I resolved to get better. I had the opportunity to start over the next year, and started studying a month earlier for my AP exams. Opening up that piece of paper this summer that had a list of all fives was definitely another radio moment.
Speaking so much of radios, I meant to talk about music in my life. I used to hate practicing the mridangam (a south Indian drum) when I first started out. My mom would invite other young musicians, some girls who are still in middle school wearing braces, to our house to practice. Was it cool for me to hang out with these kids for a couple hours? Probably not. I’d rather be doing something around my computer. As we got more into practice, though, something strange happened. I began to hear the music I was playing with everyone else. It didn’t matter anymore who accompanied me. I started having fun. Behind the braces and the giggles were two talented young musicians! I’m happy to say that I will be formally presenting my skills on the mridangam in an organized concert next summer. I’ll be accompanied by a variety of musicians from all ages. Music doesn’t see age. Who knows. Maybe I’ll be on the radio.
I bring to Rice what a lot of people do: excellence in academics, a list of extra-curricular activities, a musical instrument. What I do think is unique though, is my understanding of what it took to get there. Even learning English was hard for me when I first moved to the US. Check out my fourth grade report card. Actually, don’t. Look at my eleventh grade report card though! At Rice, I will demonstrate the same amount of commitment to improving myself.
Thank for all your constructive criticism and your suggestions!
Best answer:
Answer by Republican King.
This makes no sense…
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
